When Ed Stelmach, an unassuming farmer from rural Alberta, became the surprise choice of the province's ruling Conservatives to replace the abrasive Ralph Klein as provincial premier, political pundits found it hard to recall a single initiative he had championed in four previous cabinet jobs. This month, however, Mr Stelmach finally made his mark. He announced what he accepted was a controversial decision to raise oil and gas royalties, which average about C$10 billion ($10.5 billion) a year, by 20% from 2010.
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